Adjustable storm door frame



L. J. MILONE 2,725,960

ADJUSTABLE STORM DOOR FRAME Dec. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original FiledFeb. 3, 1949 -1o S -1a 25 m H 24- x INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

1955 L. J. MILONE ADJUSTABLE STORM DOOR FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginalFiled Feb. 3, 1949 INVENTOR BY E y MIF ATTORNE ys.

ADJUSTABLE STORM DOOR FRAME Louis J. Milone, Livingston, N. L, assignorto The Eagle- Picher Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of OhioOriginal application February 3, 1949, Serial No. 74,357, now Patent No.2,695,084, dated November 23, 1954. Divided and this application March28, 1952, Serial No. 279,168

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) This invention relates generally to convertiblestorm door units for residential buildings, providing weather protectionduring-the winter season and arranged to be used as a screen door duringthe summer weather.

The present application is a division of the copending application ofLouis J. Milone for Storm Door Unit Serial No. 74,357, filed February 3,1949, Patent No. 2,695,084 issued November 23, 1954, and relatesparticularly to the adjustable storm door frame which forms a part ofthe unit disclosed in the copending application.

The adjustable frame of the present invention forms a part of a completeprefabricated metal unit disclosed in the copending application,consisting of an adjustable frame, a storm door and interchangeableinsert panels for the door, consisting of glass'and screen cloth adaptedto be installed in the door interchangeably'to accommodate winter andsummer conditions. The frame of the unit is adapted for permanentinstallation in the door opening of a building just outside the standarddoor and the convertible storm door is hung upon this frame.

The principal object of the present invention has been to provide anadaptor frame which is quickly and conveniently adjustable relative to astandard door opening to provide a snug fit for the storm door relativeto the door opening without altering the storm door frame, therebysimplifying the installation of the storm door unit. For this purposethe storm door frame is constituted by individual metal strip memberswhich are arranged to be attached to the wall surface surrounding thestandard door opening spaced from the opening or angularly related to itif necessary, without regard to minor variations in size or angularityof the standard sized opening. Thus, the adjustable frame accommodatesthe storm door to variations in the openings from standard size, withinminor limits, without expensive fitting operations.

A further object has been to provide a metal storm door formed of hollowextruded metal sections which are adapted to be dressed down ifnecessary to fit the door within the adjustable storm door frame. Thus,if the standard door opening varies to a majorextent from normal, theadjustable storm door frame may be altered to fit the opening and thestorm door'may be dressed down to fit the altered frame. For thispurpose, the extruded framing members of the storm door are providedwith external spaced fins which form the peripheral edges of the door,and the outer edges of these fins, which are relatively thin, can beplaned down by hand. The fins therefore aid materially in fitting thestorm door unit to an opening which varies from standard size orangularity beyond the limits which can be accommodated by the adjustableframe.

The adjustable storm door frame is mounted to the outside of the dooropening and consists generally of framing strips which are right angularin cross section providing a face flange adapted to fit upon the outersurface of the standard door opening with a casing flange extendingwithin the opening and in contact with the surface of the. opening orspaced from it as determined by the variation of the opening fromstandard size. The casing flanges delineate the storm door casing andtheir rearward edges include a stop flange engageable against the edgesof the door when it is closed. The framing strips are convenientlysecured to the wall surface surrounding the door opening and arefastened in adjusted position by means of wood screws. Batten strips areprovided along the rearward edge of the casing flange' andare arrangedto seal off any space which may intervene between the casing flanges anddoor opening. The batten strips are secured to the surface of the dooropening by wood screws such that the entire frame assembly may beinstalled conveniently and will accommodate itself to minor variationsin the standard opening both in size and shape without reworking themetal frame.

Other details and features of the invention are disclosed in thedrawings and in the following detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general view illustrating the storm door unit installed ina door opening.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2,Figure 1, further detailing the adaptor frame and door construction.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to Figure 3illustrating the mounting of the hinges and door latch with respect tothe storm door frame.

Referring to Figure 1, the storm door, indicated gen-.

erally at 1, is mounted with respect to a conventional Wood door frameor casing 2 by means of the adjustable metal storm door frame indicatedgenerally at 3. The

, adjustable storm door frame or buck is formed from angle shapedframing strips,'and is installed within the wood door frame to delineateaccurately the opening for the storm door. The storm door frameadjustably embraces the corners of the door frame as best shown inFigure 3, each strip being provided with a face plate or flange 4 seatedupon the outer surface of the door frame 2 and having a right angularcasing flange 5 forming the door receiving frame or case extendingwithin the opening. These framing strips are secured by means of wood.screws 6 passing through the face plate 4 into the wood' frame 2. Bythis arrangement the individual framing strips may be adjusted withreference to the wood frame,

spaced if necessary as indicated at 7 to provide a square,

accurately sized opening or casing to receive the storm door.

The rearward edge of the casing flange 5 includes a right angular stopflange 8 which is engaged by a batten or angle strip 9 secured by meansof screws 10 to the inner surface of the wood frame 2. The purpose ofbatten strip 9 is to reinforce the door stop flange 8 and to close offthe space 7 between the metal frame 3 with respect. to the inner surfaceof the wood frame. Thus, minor irregularities as to size and angularityencountered in the Wood frames or openings, particularly in oldbuildings, are readily corrected without reworking the wood frames orthe metal storm door frame while the batten strips independentlyestablish a weather seal. The angle strips of the storm door frame andthe batten strips preferably are formed from aluminum alloy extrusionsto provide weather resistance and to present a neat finished appearance.This material is relatively soft and can be dressed down if necessaryby. using a wood plane or similar hand tool.

As best shown in Figure 1, the storm door frame 2 consists of the twoside framing strips 11-11 and the top framing strip 12, joined at themiter joints 13-13. These members as furnished by the manufacturertrimmed accurately to size for the various standard door openings andthe storm door fits .accurately withinthe assembled frame, metal framingstrips or the storm door. The assembled frame preferably fits within thestandard opening with a slight intervening space as previously indicatedat 7, in order that it may be adjusted with respect to the opening ifnecessary.

Upon installation the side framing strips 13 are adjusted to a truevertical position and the top strip is adjusted to a-horizontal positionwith respect to theopening and fastened. permanently by the screws 6.The batten strips 9 are next fastened to the top and sides within theopening by the screws 10 to seal off the space and the storm dooris thenhung Within the frame.

It will be apparent that the clearance 7 will allow the metal frame to-fit within openings which are out of square or which are undersize,within the limits of the clearance 7. However, in exceptional caseswhere the opening is badly warped or undersize to av major extent, it isa simple matter to trim the mitered ends of the framing strips andreduce the size of the metal frame sufiiciently to fit within theopening. In this instance the storm door can .be fitted into the metalframe by trimming the thin spaced fins 20 which form the marginaledgesof the storm door as described later.

The storm door is made up of aluminum or aluminum alloy extrusionsconsisting of vertical stiles or framing members and horizontal framingmembers 16 and 17 at the top and bottom respectively. These fraimngmembers are of identical shape in cross section and each constitutesgenerally a hollow rectangular body 18 provided with a web or flange 19located centrally along the. inner surface and a pair of parallel finsor flanges 20 extending outwardly as a continuation of the body walls.The fins 20-20 provide thin metal sections which can be planed ormachined readily to facilitate fitting the door to the storm door frameas described above. The fins also provide a recess approximately thesame thickness as the leaves 21 of the hinges 22 and the latch flushplate 23 as hereinafter described, so that these members need not be letinto the metal proper to lie flush with the marginal edges of the door.

Thevertical and horizontal framing members are joined together at thefour corners by means of an internal reinforcing insert or grid member(not shown). The internal inserts do. not form a part of the presentapplication and are disclosedin detail in the above noted copendingapplication.

As shown in Figure 2, the lower framing member 17 is wider than the topand side members. This member is a duplicate of the side and top memberswith the exception of the fins 20 which extend downwardly a substantialdistance beyond the body of the member to increase the width dimensionand provide the desired appearance. The lower portion of the door isprovided with a kick plate or panel 24 directly above the lower framingmember 17. This panel rests against the flanges 19 of the lower and sideframing members and its upper edge bears against a similar ribformed inan interme diate framing member 25 secured to the vertical framingmembers as shown in Figures 1 and 2. To the opposite side of the kickplate there is disposed a frame 26 formed'of angle members fastened tothe kick plate and frame members.

As shown in Figure 2; the screen panel 27 and the glass panel 28 may bemounted together in the storm door during the winter season; As shown,the panels are disposed on opposite sides of the flange 19 and aresecured by' means of a series ofscrews 29 which pass through the framesof both panels. To prepare the storm door for summer use, the glasspanel28- is removedandthe screen panel mounted by means of shorternormally-without trimming either the 4. These panels form no part of thepresent invention and a detaileddescription of them is therefore omittedfrom this zapplication, reference again being made to the copendingapplication.

The assembled storm door is. furnished by the manufacturer ready forinstallation, one of the vertical stiles screws (not shown).

- having holes .drilledztherethrough for. .the installation of the.hinges. 22. while the .other stile is provided with a latch mechanismindicatedtgenerally at 30. The hinges are secured by means of flat headscrews 31 passing through countersunk holes formed in the leaf 21 and inscrewthreaded engagement with a headed sleeve 32.

extending from the opposite side of the frame. The countersunk holes arerimmedto provide. pilot collars 33 integral with the hinge leaf so thatthe weight load of the door is transmitted-through the collars 33directly to the leaf 21 instead of being transmitted through the screws31. The opposite leaf 21 of the hinge is secured .to the, metal storm.door. frame by means of flat head woodscrews 3.4.which pass through themetal frame into the wood frame, the holes for the wood screwspreferably being drilled after installation of the metal frame. Theadvantages of this arrangement are explained in greater detail in thecopending application referred to above.

The. door latch may follow anypreferred construction and includeshandles 35 mounted upon .a latch shaft 36 which extends from opposite.sides of the door. The latch mechanismconcludes the usual spring pressedlatch plunger 37 having its outer end. tapered and engageable in a hole38 formed in the casing. flange 5 of the storm door frame. Since theframe is of relatively soft material subjectto rapid wear, a strikeplate 39 (Figure 4) which is formed from wear resistant sheet metal suchas steel, is utilized. When thedoor. is closed, the tapered end of theplunger engages .the strike plate to retract the plunger in the usualmanner. Asshown, the. strike plate includes a hooked inner end 40engaged over the marginal edge of the. hole 38. The strike plate issecured by means of a screw 41 engaged inthe face flange 4.

The storm door units, are furnished to the user in the several standardsizes complete. with framing strips and batten strips cut to size. andready for installation. In mostinstallations the. adjustable metal frameand batten strips can be installed as furnished without trimming eitherthe door opening or the metal frame. because of the inherentadjustability of the metal frame with respect to the door opening. Ifthe metal frame in certain instances requires trimming, the storm doorcan be correspondingly reduced in size by planingdown the .thin marginalfins 20.

The trimming operations, if required at all, are quite simple and canbeperformed quickly and cheaply. Thus, the metal units do not require theservices of a skilled carpenter, as in thecase ofwooden storm doors, andtheir cost insta'lled, compares favorably with the cost of wooden stormdoors.

Having described my invention, I- claim:

1. An adjustable. adaptor frame for a storm door adapted to be installedin a. standard door opening to compensate for. variations in thestandard door opening and to provide a..storm door casing to receive thestorm door, said adjustable frame comprising, a plurality of disjoinedframing strips forming the sides and top of the adjustable storm doorframe, the said framing strips being generally Z-shaped in cross sectionproviding a face flange, a casing flange and a stop flange, said framingstrips being installed within the door opening with said face-flanges infacial engagement upon the marginal wall surface surrounding the openingand with said casing flanges extended into the opening parallel with andin spaced relationship to the surface thereof, said stop flanges spacedinwardly from theface flanges and parallel therewith, said stop flangesprojecting from-the surface of'the opening and engaging the marginalportion of a storm door in closed position, said framing strips beingadjustable individually with respect to the door opening to accommodatethe variations in the size or angularity of the opening, a plurality offastening elements passing at right angles through said face flanges andanchored in the marginal wall surface surrounding the door opening andsecuring the strips in adjusted position, respective batten strips onefor each framing strip, said batten strips providing a flange projectingfrom the surface of the opening at right angles to said surface andseated against said stop flange, said flange sealing the spaceintervening between the casing flange and surface of the door opening,and fastening means passing through the batten strip and anchored in thesurface of the opening.

2. An adjustable adaptor frame for a storm door adapted to be installedin a standard door opening to compensate for variations in the standarddoor opening and to provide a storm door casing to receive the stormdoor, said adjustable frame comprising, a plurality of disjointedframing strips forming the sides and top of the adjustable storm doorframe, the said framing strips being generally Z-shaped in cross sectionproviding a face flange, a casing flange and a stop flange, said framingstrips being installed within the door opening with said face flanges infacial engagement upon the marginal wall surface surrounding the openingand with said casing flanges extended into the opening parallel with andin spaced relationship relative to the surface thereof, said stopflanges spaced inwardly from the face flanges and parallel therewith,said stop flanges projecting from the anchored in the marginal wallsurface surrounding the door opening and securing the strips in adjustedposition, respective batten strips, one for each framing strip, saidbatten strips being L-shaped in cross section providing a flange seatedin facial engagement upon the surface of the door opening adjacent saidstop flange, the batten strips having a second flange projecting fromthe surface of the opening at right angles to said surface, said secondflange seated against said stop flange and sealing the space interveningbetween the casing flange and surface of the door opening, and fasteningmeans passing through the first flangeand anchored in the surface of theopening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,656,278 Jarvis Jan. 17, 1928 1,919,393 Reinhardt July 25, 19331,952,836 Burt Mar. 27, 1934 2,381,147 Weedon Aug. 7, 1945 2,565,747 VanFleet Aug. 28, 1951 2,583,439 Oswald et al. Jan. 22, 1952

